D-backs set World Series roster in advance of Game 1
Paul Casella
@paul_casellaMLBARLINGTON -- The D-backs made one change to their 2023 World Series roster, opting to go with an extra position player for their showdown against the Rangers.
Infielder Jace Peterson rejoined the 26-man active roster, taking the place of right-handed reliever Slade Cecconi. The move gives Arizona 14 position players and 12 pitchers for the Fall Classic.
This is the same roster the D-backs used for their best-of-five National League Division Series win over the Dodgers. They swapped in Cecconi for Peterson for the NL Championship Series against the Phillies,?but manager Torey Lovullo said prior to Game 1 that having an additional left-handed hitter on the bench ultimately outweighed the need for carrying an extra pitcher.
¡°If it comes down to it,¡± Lovullo said, ¡°we feel like the importance of that left-handed at-bat -- and maybe a left-handed start -- could help us win a game over the fact that the 13th pitcher or 14th pitcher could be there to help us get through a game that we don't want to use our A or B reliever.¡±
"We're going to talk about some of the characteristics of our lineup, what we want to do, how we want to manipulate different things, and have as much leverage as possible through some of the ideas that we're having as the game is moving along," Lovullo said on Thursday.
Peterson made one appearance as a pinch-hitter in the NLDS, but with 15 stolen bases in the regular season, he also provides Arizona with an additional speed option off the bench. Cecconi, meanwhile, pitched two scoreless innings in the NLCS, one apiece in mop-up duty in Games 2 and 5.
Here is the D-backs¡¯ full roster:
Catchers (2): Gabriel Moreno and Jose Herrera
Infielders (8): Christian Walker, Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo, Emmanuel Rivera, Jordan Lawlar, Evan Longoria, Pavin Smith, Jace Peterson
Outfielders (4): Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas, Tommy Pham and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
Pitchers (12): Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson, Paul Sewald, Kevin Ginkel, Andrew Saalfrank, Ryan Thompson, Kyle Nelson, Miguel Castro, Joe Mantiply and Luis Fr¨ªas